Alarm control for sprinkler systems.



C. SMITH.

ALARM CONTROL FOB SPR-INKLER SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILI-:Q AUGIG, I9I5.

ji 9 l l n 5 2 Patened May 2, 1916.

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I .\I e/ I --fz maf w Tf H4 modification thereof are shown in ARll/ CNTROL FR SPRENIKLE .epplicetien filed August 6, 1915. Serial lo. 44,1%.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that l, (li'inrwooo SMrrH, a citizen of the United States. residing at llorcester, in the county of vWorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a neu1 and useful Alarm Control for Sprinkler Systems, ot' which the following is a specilication.

lhisinvention relates to an alarm control for a sprinkler system, and more particularly to an improved form of valve for controlling t ie flow through the alarm pipe.

lt has been customary to supply Water to the alarm pipe through an opening in the seat of the supply pipe check valve, the lifting of the valve uncovering the opening.;l and permitting the Water to lovv into the alarm pipe. This arrangement has been generally satisfactory, but is not entirely de pendable under certain extreme conditions. due largely to the` slight differential. ellect caused by the difference of Water pressures upon that poition ol? the check valve which closes thealarm pipe.

lt is the object of my invention to provide a valve structure which shall loe entirely free from any differential effect under all condi' tions, the alarm valve being balanced against pressure and the check valve, in the preferred form of my invention, being movable upwardly7 entirely independently of the alarm valve.

W ith thisl object in view, my invention relates to certain arrangements and combinations of parts which shall be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred formelE my invention, and a the drawings in ivliichl Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of' a sprinkler system; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional vieiv through my improved valve structure, in its preferred form, and Fig. 3 is a, detail view of a modification.

Referring to Fig. l, l have indicated a sprinkler supply pipe l0 having one or more branch pipes ll provided with the usual sprinkler heads l2. l have also indicated an alarm mechanism 13 of any usiial form connected -by a pipe le to the supply pipe 10. A cheelr valve l5 is pivoted at 16 inthe Specification of Letters Patent,

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supply pipe 10,'the-valve being-closed when' ever there is no flow of Water through the supply pipe. lll/'henever the pressure above the valve l5 is decreased, as by the opening of 'one of the sprinklers l2, the excessive pressure below the valve lifts the valve, thus permitting the necessary flow of Water through the supply pipe to keep the sprinlrler head in operation.

vThe alarm pipe ifi is connected to anextension 2O proj acting laterally from 'the supply pipe l0. The extension 20 is divided into upper and lower chambers 2l and 2'2 by a partition Q8 extending laterally theren through and having valve openings 24- and formed therein. The lower chamber 22 opens directly into the alarm pipe 14, While the upper chamber 2l communicates directly with the supgly pipey above the check valve The openings Qllfand 25 are oppositely disposed and are normally closed by a double pressure balanced alarm valve cornprising a valve lever 2G pivoted at 27 to the -extensifni 2G.

The valve lever f2.6 is provided at its oppo site ends with eppositely disposed valve por tions Ztl and 29.1. the portieri 28 entering the opening 2l from below the partition 23, and the portion 29 entering the opening 25 trom above the partition "Q las the areas of the upper ends of the tivo Scalve members 28 and 29 are the same, and the arms of the lever 26 are also equal, the valve is balanced against any and all pressures in the upper chamber 2l. 'The check valve l5 is provided with an extension 30 which over-lies is the valve is opened by the counterweight 3l, Water is` permitted to dow through both of the openings 24 and 25. opening is thus provided permitting the employmentp-an'alarrn pipe i4 of unusual lflliththis construction it will be seen that 'the-absence of pressurevin the chamber 22 A' large valve pipe, said cheek below the alarm valve can have no differed .tial elfect upon the check valve l5, as the check va'lve is entirely free toswing upwardly independently ot the movements of the alarm valve. Furthermore, it will be evident that a very light counter-weight Ell. will be sullieient to open the alarm valve whenever the weight of the check valve l5 is removed, the balancing' of the valve as to pressure thereon renderingl it merely neces- Sary to overcome the-inertia of the valve,

without regard to the water pressure. Substantially the saine condition obtains as to the closing of the valve when the valve l5 descends and rests upon the valve portion 2U. lt is true that the lloiv of water through the openings 24- an d .25 will cause seine slight resistance to the closing of the valve, but this resistance is readily overcome by the weigat oftlie valve l5 which, under ordinary cfr-:- lditions, will amount to some six or eight ounds.

In the modified forni of Fig. B l have provided the valve 150 with an extension 1.51, adapted to engage an overhanging lug 291 on the balanced alarm valve member 200,'

the alarm valve being positively openedand closed by the check valve. The freedomot' movement ol? the check valve is only slightly restricted by this arrangement owingr to the entire absence ol differential` pressures on the 'alarm valve, and'iiiore positive action ot' the alarm valve secured.

lllhile l have described the valve in the supply pipe as a check valve, both in the description and in the claims, l do not wish to be limited thereby to a valve which entirely closes the supply pipe. The term check valve" as herein used is intended to cover any torni of valve in the supply pipe which will litt or open under excess o'l' pressure below the valve and which hy such movement will move the alarm valve or will release it lor movement independently of the supply pipe valve. I

ll'hile l have shown and described only two forms ol n v invention it will be evident that other forms ot balanced valves may be readily substituted thereinf'and such substitution l. consider to be within the scope of my invention; i'\ccoi'din, {ly l do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed. otherwise than as set forth in the claims.

but

lVliat l claim is:- l. ln a sprinkler system, a supply pipe, a cheek valve in said supply pipe, an alarm pipe. and an alarm valve balanced with respeet to the lluid pressure exerted thereon and controlling the low through said alarm alve beine` ell'eetive lo close said alarm valve positively as lhe cheek valve moves to closed position.

ln a .sprinkler system, a supply pipe. a

cheek valve in said supply pipe, an alarm pipe, and an alarm valve which controls the flow of water through said alarm pipe, said check valve opening to its full'extent entirely independently of said alarm valve but being ell'cctive to close said alarm valve as it moves to closed position.

3. ln a sprinkler,system, asupply pipe, a check valve in said supply pipe, an alarm pipe, an alarm valve balanced with respect to the fluid pressure exerted thereon and controlling the flow through said alarm pipe, means independent of the check valve to ,open said alarm valve after the check valve is raised, and acontrolliiig.,r device efective to close tliealarm valve when the check valve closes.

Ll. In a sprinkler system, a supply pipe, a check valve in said supply pipe, an alarm pipe, and an alarm valve balanced with respect to the Huid pressure exerted thereon and controlling the flow of water through said alarm pipe, said alarm valve being free to open after said check valve is opened and means being' provided to close said alarm valve simultaneously with the closing of said check valve.

5. n a sprinkler system, a supply pipe, a check valve in said supply pipe, an alarm pipe, and an alarm valve balanced with respect to the fluid pressure exerted thereon and controlling the loiv ofvvater through said alarm pipe, said cheek valve having an extension engaging said alarm valve to close the latter when the check valve closes, and separate means being provided effective to open the alarm valve whenever' the check valve is raised.

Y In a sprinkler system, a supply pipe, a check valve in said supply pipe, an alarm pipe, and an alarm valve whichl controls the flow of water through said alarm pipe, check valve having;` an extension engaging said alarm valve to close the latter when the said.

check valve closes, and said alarm valve being coiinter-weighted to open Whenever said cheek valve is lifted to remove its weight `lrom said alarm valve.

7. ln a sprinkler system, a supply pipo, a cheek valve in said supply pipe, an alarm pipe. an alarm valve which -controls the flow of water through said alarm pipe, and means to open and close said alarm valve, said alarm valve comprising' a lever pivoted substantially centrally between its ends and having oppositely disposed valve portions at its ends.

s. ln a sprinkler system,a supply pipe. a check valve in said supply pipe, an alarm pipe, and an alarm valve. which controls the llovv ol' water through Isaid alarm pipe, said alarm valve comprisingr a lever pivoted eentrally between .its ends and having: oppositelv disposedvalve portions at its ends,

and 21 counter-weight mounted on said lever to open the alarm valve when said valve is released by the check valve.

9. In a sprinkler system, u supply pipe, a check valve in said supply pipe7 an alarm pipe, und an alarm valve which controls the How of water through said alarm pipe, said alarm valve comprising :L lever pivotecl centlally between its ends and having oppositely disposed valve portions at its ends, a counter-weight to open said valve when free to move, and means to adjust said counter- Weight.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand. v

CHETVOOD SBHTH.. 

